Allan Viens on S’barre

SOMM Recordings continues its widely acclaimed championing of the music of Charles Villiers Stanford with a captivating collection of his Children’s Songs by mezzo-soprano Kitty Whately and baritone Gareth Brynmor John, accompanied by pianist Susie Allan.

This Tribute is a poetic voyage, a secret garden in which blooms more than fifty years of two immense musical careers. Use it to remember, to retrace their paths. “Walk in the rain, take tea at midnight, walk on the sea, dance around the earth, swing in the air.” And never forget that yes, you really can “do anything when you love each other.” A 2 CD 34 track homage to a wonderful musical relationship.

Martin Barre is an English rock musician best known for his work with progressive rock band Jethro Tull, with whom he recorded and toured from their second album in 1969 to the band's initial dissolution in 2012. In the early 1990s he went solo, and has recorded four studio albums and made several guest appearances.

As the lead guitarist for Jethro Tull, Martin Barre has been joined at the hip to Ian Anderson since 1969, when he replaced Mick Abrahams in the group's lineup. His playing has provided much of the energy that allows the band to soar on record and in concert amid the beauty of Anderson's melodies and the complexity of his lyrics. 50 Years Of Jethro Tull, originally released in 2019 on UK's Garage Records is a wonderful showcase for the great Martin Barre. Barre does 28 classic Tull cuts and more than successfully recreates them as his own. Martin Barre is one of the best guitarists in Rock and this album is a tribute to both his skills and Jethro Tull as well.

Compilation of first three studio albums plus three new pieces of music and some live recordings on a bonus CD. This release was sold at Martin's website. Martin Barre is a renowned English guitarist best known for his long-standing role in the iconic rock band Jethro Tull. Born in Kings Heath, Birmingham, on November 17, 1946, Barre’s extraordinary guitar skills and innovative techniques have made him a legendary figure in rock music. Martin Barre began his musical career playing the flute and saxophone before transitioning to the guitar. His early years were spent performing in various bands, where he honed his craft and developed his unique style. In 1968, Barre joined Jethro Tull, a pivotal moment that marked the beginning of an illustrious career. His signature riff in “Aqualung” is celebrated as one of the greatest guitar riffs in rock history.

As the lead guitarist for Jethro Tull, Martin Barre has been joined at the hip to Ian Anderson since 1969, when he replaced Mick Abrahams in the group's lineup. His playing has provided much of the energy that allows the band to soar on record and in concert amid the beauty of Anderson's melodies and the complexity of his lyrics. 50 Years Of Jethro Tull, originally released in 2019 on UK's Garage Records is a wonderful showcase for the great Martin Barre. Barre does 28 classic Tull cuts and more than successfully recreates them as his own. Martin Barre is one of the best guitarists in Rock and this album is a tribute to both his skills and Jethro Tull as well.

A decent debut album, featuring a lively mix of hard-rock and r&b with progressive rock, folk, and blues sources. Ex-King Crimson alumnus Mel Collins blows the sax, and Fairport Convention's Martin Allcock and Ric Sanders turn up on a couple of tracks, but the dominant sound is Barre's guitars, soaring, crunching, grinding, or noodling gently, either blues or English folk tunes–he's not as focused here as he is on Tull's records, and his sense of melody isn't as strong as Ian Anderson's, but his playing can be entertaining and diverting. The folk-like title track is practically a lost Tull number, with a great beat and Barre singing like Anderson while playing a sweet mix of acoustic and electric guitars and mandolin. But most of the rest here is blues, r&b, and hard rock–Maggie Reeday provides the soulful lead vocals on "A Blues For All Reasons," sharing the spotlight with Barre's stinging solos and acoustic blues noodlings, and Andy Giddings' pumping Hammond organ. Some of the lyrics are dispensible, and the material doen't hold up for 50 minutes, but any fan looking for something between Tull tours may enjoy it.